Improvement in corsets



2 Sheets,-Sheet 1 L; H. 'FOY.

Corset.

Patented Feb MZT WLTIEEEEE;

N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITNOGRAFHER WASHINGTON. D. C

2 Sh eetsSheet 2. L. H. FOY. Corset.

Pagmd Feb. 19,1878.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-UTHDGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, 01c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAV-INIA H. FOY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT lN CORSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2004384, dated February19, 1878; application filed v I January 7, 1878.

- erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure '1 represents a perspective view ofmy improved corset, the straps being shown broken off. Fig. 2 representsa back view of the corset shown in Fig. 1, Sheet 1. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and'6, Sheet 2, represent, upon an enlarged scale, the form of the partsfrom which the front or bust sections are made.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to makeand use the same, I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings, the part marked A represents myirnproved corset. Thiscorset is made open in front, and is provided with clasps for securingthe corset about the person, as shown at B. Each front or bust section Ois composed of four separate pieces, D, E, F, and G, the edges beingstitchedtogether, as follows: The outwardly curved or convex edge a ofthe piece D is stitched to the outwardly curved or convex edge I) of thepart E, whilethe straight edges 0 and d of the parts D and E arestitched together, and the outwardly-curved or convex edge e of the partE is stitched to the outwardly-curved or convex edge f of the part G,and the straight edges g and h of the parts E and G are stitchedtogether. The upper end of piece E is cut with two projecting ovalshapedends or forks, H H, a piece being cut out from between their upper ends,as indicated in full lines, Fig. 5, and a slit made between them frompoint 1 to point 2, and between these pieces linsert a doublegore-piece, F, the shape of which is in theform of a section of anorange-peel, as represented in full and dotted lines, Fig. 5, the edge 3of the part F being stitched to the edge 40f the part Hin any convenientand suitable manner, while the edge 5 of the part F is stitched to theedge 6 of the part H in a similarmanner. The edges of these four partsD, E, F, and G being stitched or closed together, as above described,make a very stylish and economical bust part for a corset.

The part D forms one side of the front of the corset, while the part Gisstitched to the side piece I, the latter being provided with eyeletholesfor lacing to the back section, as indicated in the drawings, the corsetbeing tight in the back and laced on each side.

The front and side pieces D and G are provided at the bust portion ofthe corset with stiffeners,running diagonally and parallel with eachother from near the top toward the center of the bust portion of thecorset, as indicated by dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 2. These stifi'enersor bones are of unequal length, those farthest from the center of thebust being the longest, and extending down as far, or nearly as far, asthe lower extremity of the bust, whereby the bust is braced andsupported on each side, while it is kept extended by cross springs orbraces J J,secured to their inner sides.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that, by cutting thepieces D, E, F, and G in the peculiar forms shown and described, I amenabled to secure a corset adapted to fit the form in a very perfect andeasy manner, while at the same time the lower end extends down below thewaist and over the hips.

The corset is made whole and straight in the back, and provided in thecenter of the backwith two metallic stiffeners or springs, K K, asindicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and these springs may be curved outat the bottom, if desired, for supporting, orassisting to support, theclothing. As these springs are arranged close together, they fit theback, and will conform laterally .to the spine, thereby preventing anyunpleasant sensation, but, on the contrary, adjust themselves so as toform supports to the spine and back of the wearer.

The back-side sections L L, which are laced to the front section, arenot stitched or sewed to the back parts M M their entire length, but areleft open from the points 7 7 downward to thebottom of the corset.StrapsNNare secured to the back-side pieces L L, as indicated in Fig. 2,whereby, by means of a buckle, O, the

back-side pieces L L can be drawn back so as to overlap the lower edgesof the back pieces M M, thus enabling the corset to be very nicelyadjusted to the hips of the wearer.

The back part of the corset is provided with hooks m, which may beeyeleted thereto or sucured in any other proper manner. The corset isalso provided with buttons at forward of the side-laced openings; buthooks may be used in lieu thereof, if preferred. From these hooks andbuttons the skirts and clothes may be suspended.

As springs or stiffeners K K are arranged side by side upon aline, 19,extending from the bottom to the top of the corset, and in the center ofthe back thereof, by means of the side-laced openings, the outer edgesof the springs or braces K K can be drawn toward the person slightly,thereby causing said springs or braces to exert a gentle pressure uponthe spine, thereby preventing lateral curvature thereof.

By cutting the upper ends of the parts D, E, F, and Gin the formrepresented in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, very graceful shapes are securedfor the bust-sections when the parts are secured together and the corsetcompleted.

and skirt-supporting hooks m m, arranged above and below the straps N N,as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the oval-shaped ends H H of the centerbust-piece E, of the double-gored section piece F, substantially asshown and described.

4. The combination of the pieces D, E, F, and G, cut in the form shownin Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, to form bust-sections of a corset, as

shown and described.

LAVINIA H. FOY. Witnesses:

CHAS. H. R. Norr, Lnwrs J. ISAACS.

